Planning my winter projects. Alternative for emptying hold tank

[Fishzine]

So I am working on planning my upcoming winter projects, and looking for a little help with planning on head modifications

Boat is my Columbia 36 that I normally spend most of my time in the Cheasapeake bay, so pump out in my normal. Previous owner installed a vacu-flush head which I like. Systems is freshwater flushed, and I have enough water tankage to make this work for multi-day trips. I plan on servicing the system this winter. It works fine, only known issue is it has slow vacuum leak so pump kicks on about every 10 minutes if you leave it turn on. No biggy there, I can fix that.

Right now the system is only plumbbed for pump-out whole system installed below the water line. So no line to a thru-hull. Next year I am planning to do a couple trips out of the Chesapeake bay including at least one multi-day trip probably about 100 miles offshore to do some tuna fishing. The currently holding tank is boarderline to small for this trip.

I am trying to figure out simplest system to dump overboard while understanding it isn't going to be used often. My first thought is adding another fitting on the tank, with macerator and vented loop to a thru-hull. But is this really the simplest way? Concerned about the thru-hull and pump working fine if they spend most of the time sealed up, or stuff from tank getting in this line and causing issue when I try to use it the couple times I might want to?

Any other good ideas that are a little simpler or less problem prone while still being friendly to crew who simply wants the head to work?

[peghall]

Install a y-valve in the pumpout line that will let you add a line to a macerator pump and thru-hull. Vented loop goes between the macerator pump and thru-hull. You'll need to install a thru-hull with seacock--preferably below-waterline--if none currently exists.


--Peggie

[peghall]

Btw...I'm guessing that you're a relatively new VacuFlush owner....If you'll send me a PM that includes your email address (no way to attach anything to a PM), I'll be glad to send you my "VacuFlush 101" article that explains how it works (an amazing number of owners think they do, but don't) and how much water it actually needs to keep it working trouble-free.


--Peggie

[Fishzine]

Originally Posted by peghall

Install a y-valve in the pumpout line that will let you add a line to a macerator pump and thru-hull. Vented loop goes between the macerator pump and thru-hull. You'll need to install a thru-hull with seacock--preferably below-waterline--if none currently exists.


--Peggie

I can make that work. I actually have two unused thru-hulls (both below water line) available that I figured I would use one of for this, but will replace the seacock.

I would never disagree you Peghall, but curious on advantages of a y-valve vs installing another fitting on the holding tank with a simpler shut off valve? Assuming y-valve is above level of holding tank either way the macerator would need to pull prime vertically. I was thinking a secondary fitting would be less prone to having issues from infrequent use. But I admit I am probably overthinking this because of not wanting to have it go wrong....

[rslifkin]

Technically you don't even need a Y valve. Just a tee or Y in the tank discharge line. As long as you close the macerator seacock when not in use and the cap seal on the deck fitting is good, neither one will cause a vacuum leak when using the other, so both methods will pump out fine. FWIW, that's how my boat was configured from the factory. It's worked fine for the last 35 years.

[JBP]

The simplest system for rare use would be just to buy a hand or electric pump and pump out yourself where it is legal. Certainly not the most pleasant solution however.

[sail sfbay]

Originally Posted by Fishzine

........I am trying to figure out simplest system to dump overboard while understanding it isn't going to be used often. My first thought is adding another fitting on the tank, with macerator and vented loop to a thru-hull.......

Good plan..........that is the way my sailboat and powerboat are designed with a y-valve as post #2 advised.

[Paul Howard]

I attached an old diaphragm pump I had from a previous boat to a piece of plywood, connected a plastic plumbing fitting that fit the pumpout fitting to a short piece of hose, then attached a piece of output bilge pump hose to the pump for discharge.
It is not pleasant, but worked a charm, no extra fittings and I made it up from parts I had lying around. You can easily rinse the pump by putting the intake hose in the water and pumping some water through it.

[Bittern]

Hello. A y-valve is certainly simple. Word of warning, which you’ve probably considered: ensure your set-up is legal. In Canada, the mere existence of a y-valve in inland waters is prohibited, UNLESS there is a physical break (air gap), with hose ends separately and securely capped off, where the head would discharge. A few years ago, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police did a swoop on boats visiting from the USA, at the border in eastern Lake Ontario. Many skippers, unaware of this law, were fined. Good luck. Peter

[OS2Dude]

If a P.O. has removed the direct discharge part of your system, it may be wise to find out why. Where we sail it is illegal to even HAVE the option of direct discharge. (NO, a lock on a Y valve will not cut it here.)

[rmlarson1098]

Originally Posted by Fishzine

So I am working on planning my upcoming winter projects, and looking for a little help with planning on head modifications

Boat is my Columbia 36 that I normally spend most of my time in the Cheasapeake bay, so pump out in my normal. Previous owner installed a vacu-flush head which I like. Systems is freshwater flushed, and I have enough water tankage to make this work for multi-day trips. I plan on servicing the system this winter. It works fine, only known issue is it has slow vacuum leak so pump kicks on about every 10 minutes if you leave it turn on. No biggy there, I can fix that.

Right now the system is only plumbbed for pump-out whole system installed below the water line. So no line to a thru-hull. Next year I am planning to do a couple trips out of the Chesapeake bay including at least one multi-day trip probably about 100 miles offshore to do some tuna fishing. The currently holding tank is boarderline to small for this trip.

I am trying to figure out simplest system to dump overboard while understanding it isn't going to be used often. My first thought is adding another fitting on the tank, with macerator and vented loop to a thru-hull. But is this really the simplest way? Concerned about the thru-hull and pump working fine if they spend most of the time sealed up, or stuff from tank getting in this line and causing issue when I try to use it the couple times I might want to?

Any other good ideas that are a little simpler or less problem prone while still being friendly to crew who simply wants the head to work?

100 miles offshore? Bucket and chuck it. Our bucket has an actual toilet seat that fits it (kind of) for our more 'delicate' guests. We have a backup bucket.
And lest you think we are uncaring slobs that have no respect for Mother Ocean or the environment as a whole, we would be completely miserable and sad for days if an ounce of motor oil or diesel went into the sea. No outboards for us, we row the dinghy - just can't bear the thought of that little sheen of oil that sometimes appears on the water.
We keep a pee bottle in the cockpit, or use the bucket there for urine - no going over the side for safety reasons. When offshore we use the Airhead as little as possible, and of course that means we don't have a holding tank so in truth I don't even have a dog in this hunt! Just a few suggestions.

[saisoon]

Originally Posted by Fishzine

So I am working on planning my upcoming winter projects, and looking for a little help with planning on head modifications

Boat is my Columbia 36 that I normally spend most of my time in the Cheasapeake bay, so pump out in my normal. Previous owner installed a vacu-flush head which I like. Systems is freshwater flushed, and I have enough water tankage to make this work for multi-day trips. I plan on servicing the system this winter. It works fine, only known issue is it has slow vacuum leak so pump kicks on about every 10 minutes if you leave it turn on. No biggy there, I can fix that.

Right now the system is only plumbbed for pump-out whole system installed below the water line. So no line to a thru-hull. Next year I am planning to do a couple trips out of the Chesapeake bay including at least one multi-day trip probably about 100 miles offshore to do some tuna fishing. The currently holding tank is boarderline to small for this trip.

I am trying to figure out simplest system to dump overboard while understanding it isn't going to be used often. My first thought is adding another fitting on the tank, with macerator and vented loop to a thru-hull. But is this really the simplest way? Concerned about the thru-hull and pump working fine if they spend most of the time sealed up, or stuff from tank getting in this line and causing issue when I try to use it the couple times I might want to?

Any other good ideas that are a little simpler or less problem prone while still being friendly to crew who simply wants the head to work?

I used a whale hand pump screwed on pumpout outler

[peghall]

A y-valve costs a bit more than a tee (the reason boat builders use tees), but it's worth it IMO 'cuz no one ever finds out that the macerator isn't working when a tank is empty. Unlike a tee, a y-valve provides the means of shutting off flow from the tank to the macerator pump to replace the impeller or whatever else it may need including total replacement.



--Peggie

[peter loveridge]

I'd use the Whale Gusher instead of a macerater pump. There ia very little to go wrong with it

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by peghall

A y-valve costs a bit more than a tee (the reason boat builders use tees), but it's worth it IMO 'cuz no one ever finds out that the macerator isn't working when a tank is empty. Unlike a tee, a y-valve provides the means of shutting off flow from the tank to the macerator pump to replace the impeller or whatever else it may need including total replacement.



--Peggie

Good point. I've never worried about that concern as my tank is a dip tube pumpout, so that hose is normally empty. For a tank with a bottom outlet, it's a different story.